Pipe-forming machine



R w. HAVERSACK} PIPE-FORMING MACHINE Oct. 29, 1940.

4 Sheets-Sheet l ill m- INVENTOR. v Have/"sack. ATTZRNEY.

Filed June 17, 1938 Oct. 29, 1940. w HAVERSACK 2,219,742

PIPE-FORMING momma Filed June 17, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hal en? 06k.

ATTORNEY.

freak/fa? 14/ Oct 1940- I w. HAVERSACK 2,219,742

PIPE-FbRMING MACHINE Filed June 1'7, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 y 7 INENTCR. Frazier/ck W fiol/e/"sack 1940. F. w. HAvERs'AcK 2,219,742

PIPE-FORMING MACHINE Filed June 17, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. F/"ec/e'r/a W Have/"500k Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED STATES I 2,219,742 PIPE-FORMING MACHINE Frederick W. Haversack,

Sacramento,- Calif assignor of one-half to Sacramento Pipe Works; Sacramento. Califi, a corporation of California Application June 17, 1938; Serial No'L'214,232

6 Claims. (01. 113102) My invention relates to mechanisms for use in connection with the fabrication and welding of sheet material into circular-cylindrical pipe sections, a plurality of which are secured together to form a pipe, and is especially concerned with improvements upon and variations from the pipeforming machine shown in my copending appli-j cation entitled Pipe-forming machine, filed November 8, 1937, with Serial No. 173,424, and also relates to a method of handling'sheet material to suit it for pipe formation.

It is an object of my invention in generalto improve pipe-forming machines. v

Another object of my invention isto provide a pipe-forming machine in which length can be fabricated.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pipe-forming machine in which the p e sections are formed very closely to exact size.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pipe-forming machine in which large lengths of pipe can readily be handled with little labor.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pipe-forming machine in which pipe sections of different sizes can readily be fabricated.

An additional object of my invention is to provide means for ensuring accurate meeting of pipe section edges which are to be welded.

A further objectof my invention is to provide a pipe-forming machine of large capacity, in which the various parts operatein correct synchronism.

Another object of my invention is to simplify and improve the preliminary handling of sheet material by the use of my forming machine so that cheaper, more accurate pipe can be produced.

The foregoing and other objects are attained in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, in which I Fig. l is a side elevation of a pipe-forming machine constructed in accordance with my invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a plan of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of my pipe-forming machine;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation .of the machine shown in Fig. 3;

2 Fig. 5 is a cross-section the plane of which is indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section comparable to Fig. 5 but showing the mechanism in a different position; 1

.a cross-section somewhat like Fig. 6

an entire pipe v of the sheet bythe butshowing the machine forming a smaller sized run r,

Fig. 8 is a perspective of a small-sizedcradle; Y

Fig. 9Jis a, perspectiveof ashoe to be attached to a clamping arm; and

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating the practice of the method ofmy invention to reduce the com plexity of the preliminarysheet handling.

In its preferred form, thepipe-forming machine of my invention includes a frame on which is situated a cradle conforming substantially with about half the contour of a pipe to be formed, with which co-operat'e a pair of arms "together completing the contour of the pipe to'be formed and pivoted on the'frame substantiallyat the diameter ofthe cradle, for simultaneous clamping; action tohold apipe in correct contour upon the cradle, and the method includes preliminarily forming the sheet in pyramid rolls to less than the usual extent and completing the formation clamping action of my form-' ingmachinei' J v While ,the pipe-forming machine of, my invention canincludea variety of different forms and can be alter'ed in many details to correspond. with the particularenvironment' in which it is to be utilized, it has successfully been embodied in the form disclosed inthe drawings. .In this form the machine is usedinfabricating apipe length which includes a plurality of pipe sectionst, 1 8, 9 and In, each of which is comparable to the other sections and includes 'a' planar sheet or plate which has been preliminarily rolled.

Heretofore it has been"-usual to form a planar sheet by passage through"pyramid' rolls and to continue such forming until the sheet edges abutited and the'sheet became a circular cylinder,

Due to inaccuracies and variations in successive sheets, this necessitated skilled handling of the pyramid 1 rolls and individual attention to the/ formation of each sheet. -Eventhen, some tack weldingwas necessary while the cylindrical sheet was still in the pyramid rolls to hold to shape against distortion when'relea'sed. This required alternation of forming and welding crews and made the preliminary form cost comparatively high.

In accordance with the method of my invention, this preliminary forming costis cut to a fraction ofits former amount: Sheet material which is initially formed in the pyramid rolls A (Fig. 10) is shaped much less than heretofore and is rolled only enough to bring it approximately'into a cylindrical shape and not enough to cause abutment of the sheet edgesfiln fact,

moved from the pyramid rolls, without any tack welding, andis finally formed in the cradle and clamp arms of my forming machine C (Fig. 10). By following this method, no welding crew is necessary at the pyramid rolls, and theroll crew is reduced by several operators since there is no individual working of each sheet and no individual adjustment to make, a

After each sheet has been forced into a circular-cylindrical form, the adjacent edges of the, formed sheet are weldd'together and the circular meeting edges of successive sections are likewise welded togetherftoform a continuous pipe length which itself is a substantially accurate circular cylinder including a plurality of pipe sections. Each pipe length is" limited by external considerations, suchas facility in shipping and handling-and any number of sections can be utilized to form one length, the five sections disclosed herein being chosen, simply asa satisfactory example. The machine is constructed to handle whatever number of sections is most convenient.

In the present instance, therefore, I provide a frame l2 fabricated of suitable structural shapes to provide a bed l3on which alongitudinal cradle 14 issupported. v'Ihecradle itself is preferably a heavy sheet lcorrespondingflto part of the. conioctour of the pipeto be formed.- In the present instance, thecra'dleis substantially a semi-circle in cross-section and is secured to the bed 13 and is held in position by braces i6.

Inf previous pipeforming machines I have found that sometimes the prerolled sheets have a slight helical .form so that their end edges are helicallor spiral, rather than planar, and .it has sometimes been ,found necessary to provide meansfor axially displacing the meetingedges of the tubes in order to bring the ends into exactalignment. I have, found, however, that by providing asemi-circular. cradle,- and by forcing a sheet which. is only partially preformed :tightly into the cradle, the partly formed sheet takes on a true cylindrical contour so that the longitudinal edges truly abut for welding-and so that the end edges lie in parallel planes and any initial helicaP-distortion is removed. By this means, therefore, successive sections are placed incorrect abutment for welding, and the finished product is truly cylindrical throughout its entire length. v

It is very desirabla however, that the pipe sec- ,tion" be very closely'confined .within the cradle,

and to that end I mount on the frame I2 a plu-. rality of pairs of arms I! and 18, each of which is supported on a pivot l9 preferablydisposed substantially upon the diameter of the cradle .l4 and as.close thereto-as is feasible The contour of the arms l'l -and 18 is preferably approximately a quadrant and is arcuatewith the same curvature as the curvature-of the cradle I4, so that when thearms are pivoted into a slightly overlappedposition they continuerithe contour of the cradle..

and, together with the cradle, define a true circle.

Each of the arms i1 is integral with a lever 2|, and each ofthe arms I8 is integral with a comparable lever 22, so that on opposite sides of the frame l2 there are two series or groups of levers 2| and 22. Each of the levers is preferably under the urgency of an associated spring 23, suitably secured to the frame 12, so that the arms I! and I8 are ordinarily urged away from the cradle l4.

In'order to urge the arms I! and I8 toward the cradle. Mto clamp a pipe therein into proper forming position and in order simultaneously to actuate the'two series of levers 2i and 22 respectively, I preferably provide hydraulic means including a pair of deformable and elongated hoses 24 and 26. Each ofthese rests upon an associated plate 2'! included in the framework l2 and bears against a pad 28 on the lower face of the adjacent arm 2| or 22.

Since the, hoses 24 and 26 have a great length,

. and since it is desirable that all of the arms l1 and I8 operate substantially simultaneously, I preferably, provide means for introducing hydraulic fluid under pressure to both ends of the hoses so that the pressure is substantially equal,-

ized therein instantaneously. For this reason I. connect a hydraulic fluid supply pipe 3| through a valve 32 which controls theflow, to a pipe 33 and into a union 34, from which branches 36 and 31 extend to the near or adjacent ends of the hoses 24 and 26 respectively. From the branch 31 a connector 38 leads to .a stand-pipe 39 which is above the level of the hoses 24 and 26 and is 1 connected by a longitudinal pipe M with rear branches 42' and 43 joined respectively with the far ends of the hoses 24 and 26. Thus, when the valve 32 is opened, hydraulic fluid under pressure flows immediately to both ends of the hoses so that they are promptly expanded simultaneously and substantially uniformly throughout their entire length, thereby actuating the levers 2| and 22 and urging the arms I! and I8 into contact with a pipe on the cradle I4.

In order that the pressure may. likewise be relieved promptly and substantially uniformly throughout the length of the two hoses, I provide at the union 34 a connecting pipe 46 which ex tends through a valve 47 to a discharge pipe 48. A hand-operated lever 49 actuates the valve 41 e and, by a link connection 5|, simultaneously actuates the valve 32. The valves 32 and 47 are so related that they operate simultaneously but with opposite effect, so that when the lever 49 is moved it interrupts the supply of hydraulic fluid through the valve 32 and opens the valve 4'! to relieve hydraulic pressure by outflow through the pipe 46 and the valve 4'! into the discharge pipe 48. Since the stand-pipe 39 is slightly higher than the hoses 24 and 26, the outflow of fluid is sufficient only to relieve the extra pressure and is not sufficient to drainthe hoses. Then, when the next actuation is eifectuated by manipulation of the lever 49, it is necessary only for there to be suflicient inflow to increase the pressure without refilling all of the piping andhoses.

In utilizing the mechanism, a partially formed and substantially cylindrical rolled sheet, with its longitudinal edges having clearance therebethe forming of the sheet is accurately completed as the edges 53.and .54 of the sheet are brought of the pipe sections.

2,219,742 into proper welding abutment. Where the sheet is of substantial thickness there is no dimculty in relying upon the mutual abutment of the edges of the P sheet to act as a positive stop for further compressing movement of the arms I! and I8;

the-arms l1 and I8 positively at any selected or adjusted location. This is eifected simply by providing a plurality of lugs 56 on the framework at appropriate locations to receive set-screws 51 and lock nuts 58 each of which can bear upon an associated lever 2| or 22. The set-screws are" amply strong to resist the hydraulic thrust of the actuating hoses 24 and 26, and the machine is preferably initially set for a pipe size to be manufactured by first installing an-accurately machined or accurately sized piece of heavy casing' on the cradle l4 and clamping the arms I! andv l8 thereupon without restraint. fashion" all of the arms 2| and 22 are quickly positioned in their correct location for the nominal pipe-size, and the set-screws 51 and the lock nuts 58 are then manipulated into abutment with the levers 2| and 22. After the heavy casing has been removed, subsequent actuations of the hydraulic mechanism always restore the arms l1 and I8 to their correct adjustedposition, and hence subsequent sections being clamped are brought exactly into their proper relationship without any overlap but with exceedingly close adherence to the nominal size.

'Since the cradle I4 is of considerable superficial extent, and since the pipe fabricated therein is a good fit therewith, it is difficult, due to the. large frictional engagement, to move a pipe section, after it has been initially tacked or welded, into a successive position. Furthermore, in a machine of the present type, where a plurality of sections are joined together to be handled inunison as a pipe length,- the weights involved are considerable and the power required for handling becomes large.

In order to assist in the handling of the pipe sections, I provide means for reducing the frictional resistance and forfacilitating movement For this reason, at appropriate locations on the frame l2, preferably under the bed 13, I provide a plurality of retractable supporting rollers 6l, each of which is mounted in a yoke 62 at the end of a piston rod 63. A piston 64, within .a hydraulic cylinder 56, is ordinarily urged downwardly by a heavy coil spring 61, but is urged upwardly against the spring by hydraulic fluid entering through-a pipe 68. The cylinder 66 is 'supportedon an I-beam 69 which rests upon the framework l2.

When hydraulic fluid is admitted through the pipe 68 the piston 64 is liftedand the roller El is moved upwardly through an aperture H in the cradle l4, so that when the arms I! and I8 are released, the roller BI is effective to lift the pipe section slightly above the cradle or sufliciently so that the pipe section is out of fric-.

tional engagement therewith and can then readily be moved axially of the cradle upon the anti-friction rollers 6|. While I have found in In this practice that me machine of the size described about three of the rollers 6| are sufficient, they can be provided in any number desired, depending upon the general capacity of the machine and the weight of the material being handled.

I preferablyarrange it so that the rollers 6! are automatically projected through the apertures H to lift. the pipe'sections and are automatically retracted therefrom to permit the sections to conform to the cradle in appropriate sequence with the-operation of the machine. For

this'reason the pip-es 68 all connect to a manifold pipe 12 which joins a valve 13 having'two positions, in order to connect the manifold 12 selectively with a pressure fluid inlet pipe 14 or, alternatively, a pressure fluid outlet pipe 16. The

valve 13 is preferably operated by a linkage 11 which is connected with the lever 49, so that, as the hoses 24 and 26 are expanded, for example, the valve 13 is actuated to release the pressure from the pistons 64 and permit retraction of the rollers "BI, and so that, alternatively, when the hoses 2'4. andZG are. collapsed the piston 64 is subject to' hydraulic pressure in order to project the rollers M to operating position.

Despite the accuracy with which the cradle l4, and the arms I! and I8 hold the pipe sections to be welded, it is sometimes advisable to provide an additional means at the' adjacent circular edges of successive sections in order to hold the corners of the plate accurately in position while the tack-welding is being effected. For this purpose I preferably provide a plurality of superstructures 8| on the frame I 2, preferably at locations adjacent the meeting edges of successive pipe sections 6, l, 8, 9 and 10, for example. These superstructures are all identical and each one supports a hydraulic cylinder 82 within which is a piston 83', ordinarily held in upper position v by a heavy spring 84. On the piston is a piston rod 86 carrying an arcuate, circular-cylindrical shoe 81 of suflicient axial extent to overlap and to press against the adjacent ends of successive sections simultaneously. When the spring 84'is effective, the shoe 8'! is lifted and is out of contact withv the .pipe sections, but when the piston 83 is depressed, the shoe 8'! is likewise pressed onto the pipe sections to force them. toward the cradle I4 and to bring all of the adjacent pipe section surfaces into correct cylindrical location for the welding operation.

In orderto: actuate the pistons 83, each of the cylindersis connected by a pipe 88 with a manifold 88 extending through a manually operable valve 9| to the connection 38. If the shoes 81 are not needed, the valve 9| is. closed, thereby rendering the cylinders 82 all inoperative. On the other hand, if the valve 9| is opened, the cylinders 82 all receive hydraulic pressure fluid simultaneously with the hoses 24 and 26, so that the shoes 81 descend into clamping relationship at the same time as thearms I! and I8. Correspondingly, when the lever 49 is moved to release the hydraulic pressure from the hoses 24 and 26, pressure is simultaneously released from the shoes 81 and they areretracted bytheir associated springs. If desired, the valve 8| can be closed when the shoes 81 are depressed and then, despite release of pressure by manipulation of the lever49 and '7 lishments and under other conditions it is advisable to provide means for adapting a single machine to the forming of pipe of different diameters. For this reason, therefore, I provide,; as shown in Fig. 8, a removable cradle I M which preferably is a semi-circular cylindrical sheet I02 corresponding closely with thecontour of the smallerdiameter pipe to be fabricated and supportable within the large cradle I4 by a plurality of radial fins I03 which rest against the cradle I 4 when the cradle IOI is installed therein. This relationship is illustrated in Fig. 7. To complement the cradle IOI I preferably affix to the arms I! and I8 a plurality of arcuate shoes I94, each of which on its inner curve I06 is of substantially the curvature of the plate I02. Each shoe is fastened to its associated arm by bolts I01 which pass through perforations I08 in the shoe and corresponding apertures in the arms. The .shoes, therefore, can

readily be installed or removed, simply by manipu lating the-bolts I01. With'the addition of the cradle NH and the shoes I04 it is possible accurately to form a smaller-section pipe, and, if desired, the pistons 04 and 83 can be afforded a sufficient stroke to operate through suitable apertures in the plate I02 and between the shoes I04 in order to handle the smaller-sized pipes in the same'way as the larger one was handled.-

I claim: 1

l. A pipe-forming machine comprising a frame, an elongated substantially semi-circular cradle removablysupported on said frame for receiving a plurality of successive pipe sections and conforming to a part of the contour of the pipe to ,be formed, a plurality of opposed arms on said of said cradle, and an anti-friction terminus on said lifting means.

2, A pipe-forming machine comprising a frame, I

an elongated substantially semi-circular cradle removably supported on said frame for receiving a plurality of successive pipe sections and conforming to a part of the contour of the pipe to be formed, a plurality of opposed arms on said frame and movable away from and toward an approached position in which the arms conform to the remaining part of the contour of the pipe to be formed, the said arms being operable to clamp said pipe sections in said cradle, means for facilitating axial sliding of the formed pipe relative to rthe elongated cradle including meansfor lifting the pipe slightly so that the pipe is' out of frictional engagement with the bottom of said cradle but in guiding contact with the side wall of the cradle and an anti-friction terminus on said lifting means, and means for alternately operating said clamping arms and said lifting means.

3. A pipe-forming machine comprising a frame, an elongated cradle on said frame for supporting successive pipe sections, a hydraulically operated shoe engageable simultaneously with adjacent edges of adjacent sections, a plurality of movable clamping arms disposed on opposite sides of said cradle for clamping said pipe sections in said cradle, am elongated deformable member oper-- atively'connected to the clamping arms on each side of, said cradle, and means for supplying hydraulic fluid simultaneously to opposite ends-of said elongated member to inflate the same'where by to actuate'said arms substantially simultaneously. 1

i. A pipe-forming machine comprising a frame, an-elongated substantially semi-circular cradle removably supported on said frame for receiving a plurality of successive pipe sections and conform-, ing to a part of the contour of the pipe to be formed, a hydraulically operated shoe engageable simultaneously with adjacent edges of adjacent pipe sections, a plurality of pairs of opposed bydraulically operated arms disposed on opposite shoe to engage said pipe sections and said arms for clamping said pipe, sections.

5. A pipe-forming machine comprising a frame, an elongated cradle on said frame for supporting successive pipesections; a hydraulically operated shoe engageable simultaneously with adjacent edges of adjacent sections, a plurality of movable clamping arms disposed on opposite sides of said cradle for clamping said pipe sections in said cradle, adjustable means for limiting the clamping movement of said clamping arms, an elongated deformable member operatively connected to the clamping arms on each side of said cradle,

and means for supplying hydraulic fluid simultaneously to opposite ends of said elongated member'to inflate the same whereby to actuate said arms substantially simultaneously.

6. A pipe-forming machine comprising a frame,

an elongated cradle on said frame for receiving a plurality of successive'pipe sections and conforming to a part of the contour of the pipe to be formed, a hydraulically operated shoe engageable simultaneously with adjacent edges of adjacent pipe sections, a plurality of hydraulically operated clamping arms disposed on opposite sides of a said shoe in'the length of said cradle for clamping said pipe "sections in said cradle, said arms when in clamping position conforming to the remaining part of the contour of the pipe to be formed, an elongated conduit for carrying fluid to actuate said clamping arms and receiving hydraulic fluid simultaneously at opposite end portions thereof whereby to actuate said arms substantially simultaneously, asingle control means for hydraulically operating said shoe to engage said pipe sections and said arms for clamping said pipe sections, and means for facilitating axial sliding of the formed pipe. relative to the elongated cradle including means for lifting the pipe slightly so that the pipe is out of frictional engagement with the bottomof said cradle but in guiding contact with the side wall of said cradle.

FREDERICK W. HAVERSACK.

sides of said shoe in the length of said cradle movable away from and toward an approached (Ill 

